By Aaron O'Connell, Rosemary Peters
Senior Aaron Baum was awake the night Public Safety came searching for freshman Juan Manuel Garcia.
It was 2:30 a.m. in Shipstad Hall when Baum heard a door next to him rattling. Thinking someone had been locked out of the side exit, he stuck his head into the hallway and looked around.
Two Public Safety officers stood silhouetted outside of Juan Manuel Garcia's room, knocking.
"Juan, Juan are you in there? Open the door."
There was no response.
Baum watched as the officers proceeded to open the door and go inside Garcia's room. After looking around for a few minutes, they left the room.
It wouldn't be until the next morning, March 18, when students received a grave e-mail from the Rev. E. William Beauchamp, that the University of Portland community would know something was wrong.
Garcia, an 18-year-old life science major, from Brookings, Ore., has been missing since March 16, casting a pall of uncertainty and disquiet over the UP community.
"I think everyone in Shipstad is worried about him," freshman Emily Lindgren said. "I know that the longer it takes to find a person, the more likely it is bad news, but I'm trying to be optimistic."
That there has been no new news from police in close to a week coupled with the fact that University officials are saying little on the subject has left freshman Greg Matt, who has been roommates with Garcia, the center of a vast inquiry, inundated with questions from classmates and others who are concerned about Garcia.
"It has just drained me," Matt said. "Everyone wants to know everything. People have the best intentions, but it is draining. I have met with Tyler (the Shipstad hall director) and have been in contact with investigators and police up to last Thursday. Tyler has been my contact to outside people now. I entirely appreciate it."
Among those who have questioned Matt are investigators and police, whom Matt has provided with all the information he knows about Garcia and the disappearance. In recent days, Hall Director Tyler Oschner has begun to help fend off requests from well-intentioned students. "Tyler has been my contact to outside people now. I entirely appreciate it."
On March 18, Mayra Garcia, a student at Oregon State University, posted a query to Hannah Gray, a Beacon reporter, requesting any information Gray might have about her brother's whereabouts.
Told by Gray that she had no further information, Mayra Garcia responded by sending along a statement to the University community.
"I'd just like everyone to be on the lookout for him and keep him in their prayers," Mayra Garcia wrote. "And if anyone has any bit of information to contact the authorities as soon as possible. We're asking for help from the student body and the community to bring him safely home."
Since then, Mayra Garcia has declined to further comment.
Last week, the Garcia family visited Shipstad to take a few of their son's possessions after his disappearance, but were unavailable for comment.
"They looked incredibly sad," Matt said. "I knew they were coming, but not when... it took me off-guard. It was nice to see them and extend my feelings toward them."
Matt has since been moved out of the room he shared with Garcia in an attempt to restore some normalcy and allow him a chance to return to his studies. The move was a joint decision by Ochsner, and Mike Walsh, director of Residence Life.
According to the Portland police, Garcia, who went missing on March 16, was last seen that day asking directions to the Rose Garden in Washington Park. Police said that Garcia spent time near the Japanese Garden in the park, which is located in Southwest Portland.
Some of Garcia's belongings - reportedly including his backpack - were found and turned over to police, though PPB would not release where the belongings were located.
Friends and acquaintances at UP describe Garcia as amiable though somewhat introverted. Garcia, a fan of spicy foods and an apparent conscientoius dresser, was known by one friend for always having the "high-dollar shoes."
French professor Trudie Booth taught Garcia in her French 101 class last semester, and attested that Garcia was also a good student, though not especially vocal.
"Juan was a quiet but conscientious student and a very polite and respectful person," Booth said in an e-mail. "I greatly appreciated his presence in class and I hope and pray that he will be back at our university very soon."
Friends of Garcia acknowledged his shy nature, but were also quick to point out his affability.
"Juan was laid back, outgoing but still kind-of shy, non-judgmental, funny," said Jerry Myers, an acquaintance of Juan's from the University Park neighborhood. "Whenever I saw Juan he seemed to be there to have a good time."
Beyond the original e-mail which broadcast Garcia's disappearance, the only official comments about Garcia have been in messages pertaining to the unrelated death of senior Theodore Karwin, whose body was discovered in his Northwest Portland apartment yesterday.
The Rev. John Donato, C.S.C., said that the University's lack of public discussion on the matter is a matter of respect for Garcia and his family.
"There are a lot of reasons for why the University has maintained its silence, federal and legal preventions like FERPA, primarily, which restrict the regular updates and details we can offer. Everyone's personal information is kept private," Donato said. "In this instance, people are asking, 'Why does the University not tell us more?' Instead, they should be glad that the school protects our privacy. It's a combination of both decency and law."
Laura Goble, director of the Moreau Center, said as understandable as the lack of information from the administration is, she believes many students look for guidance from the University's leaders.
"I feel like it's been this one long, silent hush. And I think a lot of people are concerned," Goble said. "The community looks to the administration for how to respond, so we need that communication open."
Goble went on to say that many students at UP don't tend to be "activist students" and are more passive in their response to events. But whatever the reason for the silence of the administration, Goble expressed confidence that UP was acting in the students' best interest
"I think the University works really hard to do the best for all parties involved in something like this. I know the administration definitely has the best interest of everyone at heart," Goble said.
The University of Portland has a missing student procedure which involves collaboration from different University agencies, staff, students and local law enforcement.
"The missing student protocol does not apply to the Juan Garcia case because the Portland Police Bureau informed the University of Mr. Garcia's disappearance and, as such, began as an continues to be a police investigation," Public Safety Director, Harold Burke-Sivers said in a statement.
University of Portland students have been encouraged to call Portland police with any information they may have on Garcia's whereabouts. Students are instructed to call 503-823-0446, 503-823-0462 or 911 with any information.
Mary Wheat, a spokesperson for the Portland Police Bureau, said that if any more information is found, it will be immediately followed.
"(The detectives) did work all leads that they had," Wheat said. "There are no leads right now."
If Garcia is found, the Portland Police Bureau will first notify the family, and must issue a press release.
At present, some students are wondering if more can be done to find Garcia.
ASUP president, Kyle Bunch, approaches the matter of Garcia's disappearance and the resulting administrative silence with some trepidation.
"The impression that I get is that the University is trying not to disrupt Portland Police's search but even as ASUP preside nt, I'm not sure.
"Is there anything we can do? I don't know. The hall Masses help, the campus Masses help, the prayers help, but as for action, I just don't know."
Andy Matarrese, Lacey Bitter, Aly Ferris, Clare Shreve, Amanda Clifford, Elliot Boswell and Hannah Gray contributed to this story.
